This Caramelized Baked Brie Bread Bowl is sure to be a huge hit at your holiday party! Crunchy bread… gooey brie cheese… and bacon onion jam… what’s not to love. A must-make for cheese lovers!

Baked Brie Bread Bowl with Onion Jam

All aboard the appetizer train! With Christmas less than 2 weeks away, I can’t think of a better time than now to share ALL of the best app recipes with you.

And today we’re talking gooey brie cheese… baked in a bread bowl… and covered in bacon-y caramelized onions. It’s literally a dream come true for cheese lovers!

The bread loaf is baked in the oven allowing the cheese to get nice and gooey. Once the cheese is melted, you’ll pull the bread bowl apart, and dip the crusty bread into the gooey cheese. Trust me when I say your party guests will RAVE over this appetizer dish!

Just be sure it’s baked good, you really want the cheese to be gooey. You might need to add a few minutes onto the bake time and that’s totally ok!

Ingredients for a Baked Brie Bowl

• Bacon: I suggesting using a thick-cut applewood-smoked bacon… but at the end of the day, almost any bacon will work! Use what you like; what’s on sale; or what you already have on hand.
• Butter: While I always suggest unsalted, salted butter will work in a pinch. I suggest halving the amount of salt called for, or omitting it all together.
• Onions: I like using sweet yellow onions here, but almost any onion will work. As long as you like the flavor of said onion, of course.
• Salt and Pepper: To season and spice.
• Water: Rehydrates the onions as they cook. You can always add more if needed.
• Thyme: FRESH thyme leaves; please do not sub in dried thyme here.
• Garlic: You’ll want to mince the garlic as fine a possible; you want the flavor but not huge chunks.
• Apple Cider Vinegar: Adds a great dash of tang and balances all of the flavors. Red wine vinegar works fine as a sub.
• Brown Sugar: Sweetens our onion just a bit! If you don’t like sweet and savory, reduce the amount by half, but don’t completely omit!
• Mustard: A whole grain mustard works best, but regular dijon will work in a pinch.
• Parsley: Again, fresh is a must! Fresh parsley adds a welcome pop of brightness and color.
• Sourdough: Go to your local bakery and ask for a sourdough bread boule (bread bowl).
• Brie Wheel: I love using double cream brie, but use a wheel of whatever brie you enjoy most.
• Olive Oil: Whatever you have on hand will work fine! No need to bust out the fancy stuff.

Let’s Make a Brie Bread Bowl!

1. Cook the bacon until crispy, then chop it up into tiny pieces. Feel free to do this in advance and store in the fridge for up to 24 hours before use.
2. Add the onion to the same pan and cook until they’ve started to soften. Then toss in the water, thyme, and garlic and cook for another minute. DO NOT LET THE GARLIC BURN.
3. Reduce the heat and cook, stirring occasionally, for about 40 minutes. Until the onions are deeply caramelized! Don’t skimp on time here. This where flavor builds.
4. Add in the vinegar and brown sugar and cook for 5 more minutes.
5. Stir in the mustard, parsley, and chopped bacon. Remove pan from heat.
6. Preheat the oven to 350. Place the brie in the freezer.
7. Make the bread bowl by slicing off the top third off the bread loaf. Don’t throw this away! Instead cut into pieces and set aside.
8. Place the Brie on top of the bread and use a knife to trace a circle a little larger than the wheel of cheese. Be careful not to cut through the bottom of the boule.
9. Use your hands to pull out the “bread plug”. Scoop out the insides of the bread boule. Then use a serrated knife to cut 1/2-inch deep slices around the entire bread boule. Brush the inside of the bread with the olive oil, then sprinkle with salt and pepper.
10. Scrape ½ cup of the onion mixture into the boule. Then place the brie inside the bread bowl, then top with remaining onion mixture.
11. Bake until the cheese is warm and gooey and the bread has turned a golden brown. Add more time if needed to get the cheese nice and gooey.

Serve warm, from the baking sheet, or transfer to a large plate! Below are some of my favorite things to serve this with.

What to serve with Baked Brie Bread Bowl:

• Champagne or prosecco
• sliced fruit such as apples and pears
• dried nuts and fruits, on the side.
• a big green salad
• crackers, pretzels, and lots of bread

More Holiday Party Appetizers:

• Christmas Tree Charcuterie Board
• Stuffed Italian Sausage Mushrooms
• Prosciutto Wrapped Shrimp with Bourbon Honey Mustard Sauce
• Antipasto Skewers
• Smoked Salmon and Cream Cheese Stuffed Pepperoncini

Caramelized Baked Brie Bread Bowl

Ashley Manila

This Caramelized Baked Brie Bread Bowl is sure to be a huge hit at your holiday party! Crunchy bread... gooey brie cheese... and bacon onion jam... what's not to love. A must-make for cheese lovers!

5 from 1 vote

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Prep Time 25 minutes mins

Cook Time 1 hour hr 10 minutes mins

Total Time 1 hour hr 35 minutes mins

Course Appetizer

Cuisine American

Servings 4 to 6 people

Ingredients

 

For the Caramelized Onions:

• 6 slices thick-cut applewood smoked bacon
• 1 Tablespoon (14g) unsalted butter
• 2 large onions thinly sliced
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 1 Tablespoon (14ml) water
• 2 teaspoons fresh thyme leaves minced
• 5 cloves garlic minced
• 1 and 1/2 Tablespoons (21ml) apple cider vinegar
• 3 teaspoons light brown sugar
• 1 and 1/2 Tablespoons (21g) whole grain-mustard
• 1 Tablespoon (9g) fresh parsley roughly chopped

For the Brie Bread Bowl:

• 1 8-inch sourdough bread boule
• 1 8 ounce wheel double-cream brie
• 1 Tablespoon (14ml) olive oil
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Instructions

 

For the Caramelized Onions:

• Place the bacon in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Cook, flipping frequently, until the bacon is cooked through and crispy, about 5 minutes. Remove bacon from the pan and place on a large cutting board. Cut the bacon into small bits. Set aside.
• To the same pan, add the butter and let it melt. Add the onions, salt, and pepper. 
• Cook, stirring occasionally, until the onion softens, about 8 minutes. 
• Add in the water, thyme, and garlic and stir well to combine. Reduce the heat to medium low and continue cooking, stirring occasionally, until the onions are very soft and caramelized, about 30 minutes. 
• Add in the vinegar and brown sugar and cook for 5 more minutes. 
• Remove the pan from heat. Stir in the mustard, parsley, and chopped bacon. 

For the Brie Bread Bowl:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees (F). Line two large baking sheets with parchment paper and set aside. 
• Slice the top third of the bread boule. Cut into 1-inch pieces and set aside. 
• Place the wheel of Brie on top of the bread boule, in the center, and using the Brie as a guide, use a paring knife to trace a circle a little larger than the wheel of cheese. Be careful not to cut through the bottom of the boule. Place the brie in the freezer to firm up while you finish the cutting. 
• Once the circle has been cut, use your hands to pull out the "plug". Scoop out the insides of the bread boule, leaving about 1/2-inch of bread around the side. Cut excess bread into 1-inch pieces and set aside.  
• Starting halfway up the side of the bread boule, use a serrated knife to cut 1/2-inch deep slices around the entire bread boule. Brush the inside of the bread with the olive oil, then sprinkle with salt and pepper. 
• Remove the brie from the freezer and trim off the top rind. Scrape ½ cup of the onion mixture into the boule. Then fit the brie inside the bread bowl (on top with the onions). Top with remaining onion mixture. 
• Transfer boule to the prepared baking sheet and bake until the cheese is warm and gooey and the bread has turned a golden brown, 25 to 30 minutes. Sprinkle with fresh thyme leaves, and serve warm! 
• About 10 minutes before the brie is done baking, place all reserved bread cubes on the second parchment paper lined baking sheet and place them in the oven as well. Remove them when you remove the brie, and serve them with the brie, for dipping. 

Keyword brie, baked brie, baked brie bread bowl, cheese, appetizer, Christmas

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